Our selection of some of the best news photographs taken around the world during the past 24 hours.

Image copyrightJIM WATSON/AFPImage caption
US secret service officers surround US President Barack Obama as he waves to the crowd after speaking at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's 37th Annual Awards Gala in Washington.

Image copyrightWally Santana/apImage caption
Police try to hold back pro-democracy student protesters during a scuffle as an ambulance tries to leave the compound of the chief executive office in Hong Kong. The protesters, angry at China's plan to vet election candidates, have been occupying parts of the city since the weekend.

Image copyrightMOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFPImage caption
Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat near Mecca as they perform one of the Hajj rituals.

Image copyrightRUNGROJ YONGRIT/epaImage caption
Diego Hypolito of Brazil performs on the horizontal bar at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning, China.

Image copyrightSRDJAN SUKI/epaImage caption
Dutchman Max Verstappen became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history when he competed in practice at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. The 17-year-old, who will race for Toro Rosso in 2015, was 12th fastest despite being forced off with mechanical failure with six minutes remaining.

Image copyright Dan Kitwood/Pool/Getty ImagesImage caption
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has promised new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that Britain will always be a "strong partner and good friend". Mr Cameron is the first world leader to meet Afghanistan's new government.

Image copyrightJohn Badman/The Telegraph/apImage caption
Fire department batallion chief Brad Sweetman (right), and Alton Captain Matt Fischer help pull an unidentified man to safety after his vehicle was overcome by a flash flood in Jersey County, near Alton, Illinois. The man was exhausted from the ordeal but uninjured.

Image copyrightAdrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/apImage caption
A tourist takes a picture of pink and blue flags in front of Parliament Hill which are part of an anti-abortion campaign in Ottawa, Ontario.